On September 2, when the new school year starts in Cuba, the province of Sancti Spíritus will face a deficit of approximately 1,740 teachers. The situation has worsened compared to last year, which ended with a need for about 1,500 educators, particularly affecting technical, primary, and secondary education in subjects such as Mathematics, Spanish, History, and subjects in polytechnics.
According to the weekly Escambray, the authorities plan to cover the shortage with around 2,045 alternatives, primarily hourly contracted teachers and others with additional workloads. However, there are still about a hundred positions in secondary and pre-university that remain unfilled. These "solutions" are not full-time and often not ideal.
The state newspaper's report acknowledges that the lack of stable and competent teachers impacts promotion and quality results in the province. "This is evident, for example, in the increased number of students needing to retake exams, especially in pre-university and secondary education. It also manifests in knowledge gaps that often affect scores on entrance exams for higher education," the article details.
Persistent Teacher Shortage
With more than 460 schools serving over 65,700 students across all levels of education, Sancti Spíritus has long struggled with a teacher deficit. This has led to students from pedagogical or other specialties being placed in classrooms, hiring other professionals, overloading current teachers, or even having sector directors and hundreds of re-employed retirees teach classes.
By late October, almost two months into the 2023-2024 school year, Cuba faced a nationwide shortage of over 17,000 teachers. At the end of September, there were 17,278 missing educators. The number grew by about 7,000 in just a month, as authorities had acknowledged a shortage of 10,000 teachers by the end of August, as reported by the independent outlet 14ymedio.
In the secondary education level alone, at least 3,200 teachers were missing, leaving coverage at only 88.9%. The most affected provinces included Havana, Mayabeque, Artemisa, Matanzas, and Sancti Spíritus.
FAQs on Teacher Shortage in Sancti Spíritus
Below are some frequently asked questions regarding the teacher shortage in Sancti Spíritus and its impact on education.
What is the current teacher deficit in Sancti Spíritus?
Sancti Spíritus is currently facing a deficit of approximately 1,740 teachers as the new school year begins.
Which educational levels are most affected by the teacher shortage?
The teacher shortage particularly affects technical, primary, and secondary education, especially in subjects such as Mathematics, Spanish, History, and polytechnic courses.
How are authorities planning to address this shortage?
Authorities plan to use around 2,045 alternatives, including hourly contracted teachers and others with additional workloads. However, there are still about a hundred positions that remain unfilled.
What has been the trend in the teacher deficit across Cuba?
The teacher deficit in Cuba has been worsening, with a nationwide shortage of over 17,000 teachers recorded by late October, growing by about 7,000 in just one month.